Self-storage facilities are specifically designed to provide a variety of storage spaces with roll-up metal doors as the primary means of access into the storage space. While some of these units only open to the outside, it is increasingly common to have some open to interior spaces along hallways. This can be particularly true in buildings that are renovated to become self-storage facilities, but it can also be true in larger new- construction facilities too.
The question that immediately comes up is: What do we construct those hallway walls out of? They need to be durable due to the regular coming and going of people, equipment and belongings. They also need to be easy to clean and present a good appearance so that people using the facility feel comfortable about doing business there. And they need to coordinate easily with the roll-up doors and partitions that separate the storage units from each other—both technically and aesthetically.
The answer is found in pre-engineered metal hallway systems and components that are manufactured by the same company as the roll-up doors. The pre-engineered metal allows for a strong, durable and attractive solution for hallway and unit walls, and the fact that they’re made by the same company as the doors used in the facility means that the coordinating details have likely been designed and refined to work together seamlessly. Here are a few things to be aware of when looking at these systems:
Another place to consider is the base of doors, where pushcarts or other traffic might inadvertently run into the door and cause denting. The solution here is to add an 18-gauge kickplate across the bottom of the door to distribute the impact of any collision and prevent visible damage. It also protects the door finish, which might otherwise suffer from scuffmarks or discoloration.
Paying attention to these details and considering a coordinated system from the door manufacturer helps to reduce surprises during construction or operation of a self-storage facility. To learn more, contact your local DBCI representative.